and who are you advising at the united nations? >> guest: i talked to a number of u.n. officials. a must see who i talked to in our discussions are confidential. they will just generally say it is my view that right now, any diplomatic initiative is a waste of time. it has become such an existential conflict, so militarized on each side of the conflict to try to put forward the diplomatic resolution is useless right now because either side is just not listening to it. i think you and officials, from what i've been reading, the new u.n. envoy who is imminently qualified understands the almost impossibility of his task. i think he has taken right approach. in other words, is going to syria, meeting with regime officials, many with opposition officials, getting the lay of the land. he is making necessary contacts and developing relationships so that perhaps when there is a time, hopefully in the near future, very diplomatic initiative stands a chance of succeeding, then it can happen. but right now i don't see it. >> host: you don't see this week anything out of the ghetto and, no re